Man Utd dismiss terror plot target claims

Last updated at 12:18 20 April 2004


Manchester United dismissed speculation today that their Old Trafford stadium had been identified as a terror target.

Club spokesman Phil Townsend played down newspaper reports that the Premiership club was targeted by terrorist suspects arrested yesterday morning.

He said the club had received no warnings from police and refused to comment on suggestions it would be an obvious objective for terrorists planning an attack in the city.

His comments follow the arrest of 10 people of North African and Iraqi Kurdish origin who are held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism following a series of dawn raids yesterday morning.

Six men and a woman were arrested in Greater Manchester and three other men were arrested in Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and West Midlands.

Responding to reports that al Qaida terrorists were planning a suicide bomb plot at Old Trafford on Saturday, Mr Townsend said: "We have not been told that Old Trafford has been identified as a target."

Mr Townsend continued: "We are in discussions with police regarding security at the ground but these are the routine discussions we would have on any match day."

The news comes only hours before Manchester United's match against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford tonight. They are also due to meet rivals Liverpool on Saturday.

Detectives are questioning those arrested in the anti-terror swoops at police stations across the region.

Officers refused to confirm the raids followed a large surveillance operation involving the interception of telephone calls and messages.

Yesterday's operation involved more than 400 officers and was co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Police with the assistance of the security services and the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorism Branch.

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